Kakashi sat in a large tree overlooking the village. The moonlight was reflecting upon his pale face. He sighed. "This might be the last time I see the moon through my own eyes." A small cool breeze blew around him. He twitched. A sharp pain in his neck made him go limp. His eyes grew wide. 'No…not yet! It's not supposed to happen! Not now!' He screamed and fell out of the tree.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were about two blocks away from where they were supposed to meet their Sensei. While Sakura and Naruto were busy arguing with each other, Sasuke was quieter than ever. 'Something's wrong.' He thought. 'Something's off around here. I can feel an evil presence…its close.'

"Kakashi-Sensei is going to be here on time, Naruto."

"He is not! He's always late. You know that."

Sakura growled and realized that it wasn't worth arguing over. 'He'll be early today…I just know it.'

She had accidentally bumped in to Sasuke. "I'm sorry Sasuke-kun! I didn't mean to—" She was cut short.

"Look." Sasuke was pointing toward the bridge.

"Huh?" She looked to where he was pointing.

All three of them stood gaping.

"Whaaaaaat! Kakashi-Sensei got here before us!" Naruto yelled.

Kakashi stood on the bridge staring down at the waters below. He noticed his three students and looked at them.

'His eye…' Sasuke thought. 'What's with his eye? He looks…a little heartless and cold…something's wrong with him…'

"Come." Their Sensei spoke up. "We're going into the forest."

"Alright!" Naruto piped. "A mission!"

Kakashi chuckled. 'This'll be your last mission, fool.'

They reached the forest. Kakashi suddenly stopped and reached in his pouch. He pulled out a kunai. His students stepped back.

"Wh-what are you doing, Sensei?" Naruto asked.

"I'm going to kill you, and everyone else in this dreadful village." He laughed.

They were shocked by his answer.

Kakashi took a step forward. Then another. He ran at Naruto, laughing like a maniac. He grabbed him by his shirt collar and lifted him up. The kunai was at Naruto's throat.

"S-Sensei…you wouldn't kill me, would you?"

"Heh heh…I would, and I will, fool." He put the kunai closer to his neck, but he hesitated before making the final blow that would end Naruto's life. Kakashi started to shake. He dropped Naruto along with the kunai and stumbled backwards. He gripped his head with his hands. Naruto, still on the ground, was scared and sweating.

"Damn you!" Kakashi yelled. "It's not time to come out, bastard!"

He fell to his knees.

There was silence for a while.

"Na…Naruto…I-I'm sorry…" He looked up at him and pleaded. "F-forgive me…Naruto…" He collapsed into the ground.

Kakashi shivered and opened his eyes. 'What…'

"…He's awake…"

He looked in the direction of the voice. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were staring at him like he was some kind of monster. He looked at his body. He was in a bed with blankets and sheets covering him.

'What is…how…?' He thought. 'I remember it…'

"You guys, I'm sorry about what happened." He felt a tear roll down his cheek so he closed his eyes. Naruto walked up to him. Kakashi looked up at his student. Naruto wiped the tear from his cheek.

"Sensei…what happened to you? You seemed very different from before…you tried to kill me…why!"

"Naruto…a dark side has been lurking inside of me for years now…ever since my best friend died. I knew it was there. I always knew, but I wasn't able to stop it from happening." Tears kept rolling down his face and he couldn't stop them. "I-If I don't leave and do something…it'll take over my whole body. I can't stop it if it does that. I can't let that happen…no matter what." He got off the bed and headed for the door.

'What should I do?' Naruto asked himself.

Sakura ran up to Kakashi and grabbed his arm. "You can't leave, Kakashi-Sensei! I want you to teach me! I want to learn more! I don't care about the consequences of my actions…I just want you to stay and teach me." She begged.

"I agree with Sakura. You're our Sensei, you teach, we learn. If you leave, we have to stay behind and we won't learn."

Naruto stumbled over words. "Y-Yeah! What they said!"

"Naruto, you're such an idiot…" Sakura said frowning.

"Hey! I am not…" He smiled back at Kakashi. "Besides, Kakashi-Sensei, you're one of the best teachers I've had! If you leave, I'm going with you!"

"If you go with me, you'll be in danger, you know that right?" He asked curious.

They nodded.

He smiled. 'Such kindness toward others…I'll stay, just for them…' He looked serious. 'But how long can I last…I don't want my dark half to completely take over my body and control me. I don't want to kill them, or anyone else.'